IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 208 

Expressing opposition to the use of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, 

nitrous oxide, argon, or other gases to euthanize shelter animals and 

support for State laws that require the use of the more humane euthanasia by injection method. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 8, 2013 

Mr. MORAN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Agriculture 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing opposition to the use of carbon monoxide, carbon 

dioxide, nitrogen, nitrous oxide, argon, or other gases 

to euthanize shelter animals and support for State laws 

that require the use of the more humane euthanasia 

by injection method. 

Whereas 6,000,000 to 8,000,000 cats and dogs are placed 

into the care of between 4,000 to 6,000 local animal shelters each year in the United States; 

Whereas nearly half of these animals are euthanized each 

year because adoptive homes are not able to be found for 

them; 

Whereas to be considered humane, a euthanasia technique 

must expeditiously cause painless unconsciousness, folVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:49 May 09, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR208.IH HR208

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•HRES 208 IH 

lowed by respiratory then cardiac arrest, and ultimately 

death; 

Whereas animals euthanized in gas chambers are often forced 

into confined areas with several other animals, causing 

unnecessary stress and aggressive behavior; 

Whereas the use of gas chambers can take over 30 minutes 

to end an animal’s life and sometimes does not result in 

the death of all the animals inside; 

Whereas the use of gas chambers can cause a loss of consciousness and brain function in an animal only after the 

animal’s vital organs shut down, resulting in prolonged 

suffering and distress; 

Whereas old, pregnant, neonatal, and injured animals are 

often biologically unable to absorb the gas as readily as 

larger or healthier animals, which can prolong the stress 

and trauma they experience before death; 

Whereas highly toxic carbon monoxide, the most common 

chemical used in animal gas chambers, is the leading 

cause of accidental poisoning in the United States, and, 

even at low levels, can result in many long-term effects 

including impaired memory, breathing difficulties, muscle 

weakness, heart irregularities, and brain damage; 

Whereas gas chambers threaten the safety of animal shelter 

workers, causing the death of at least one human and severely injuring several others in recent years; 

Whereas a viable and cost-effective alternative to the use of 

gas chambers exists in the form of euthanasia by injection using sodium pentobarbital; 

Whereas the use of euthanasia by injection causes animals to 

lose consciousness and brain function before their vital 


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•HRES 208 IH 

organs shut down, decreasing suffering and resulting in 

rapid clinical death; 

Whereas the use of injectable euthanasia agents is considered 

the most reliable and preferable method of animal euthanasia by the American Humane Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Animal 

Control Association, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty 

to Animals, and the Humane Society of the United 

States; and 

Whereas at least 20 States and the District of Columbia either have laws banning the use of gas chambers or 

choose not to use the method to euthanize shelter animals: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses disapproval of the use of gas 

3 chambers to euthanize shelter animals; 

4 (2) supports the enactment of State laws re5 quiring the use of euthanasia by injection with so6 dium pentobarbital as the standard method of eutha7 nasia for all animal shelters, and 

8 (3) encourages States to allow licensed shelters 

9 to purchase necessary euthanasia drugs, such as so10 dium pentobarbital, subject to appropriate training 

11 and certification. 

Æ 


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